Re: [boost] Why Boost.Build?

Subject: Re: [boost] Why Boost.Build?
From: Bjørn Roald (bjorn_at_[hidden])
Date: 2011-03-26 13:29:10

On 03/26/2011 04:08 PM, Gregory Crosswhite wrote:
> Hey everyone,
>
> Is there a reason why Boost uses Boost.Jam/Boost.Build for reasons 
> other than tradition? 

Boost.Build works great for those around here caring enough to maintain 
a build system for boost.  Also it seams to work well enough that a new 
build system is not a top priority for people willing to do something 
about it.  That said I think the fact that it is not as common and well 
known as some alternatives, and that it is missing some features people 
are expecting causes people to ask for CMake.

> Does it have advantages over other build systems, in particular CMake 
> (which I consider to be its main competitor)?

CMake is not a build system. CMake is a meta build system tool that 
takes a platform independent meta description of a build system and 
generate your platform specific build systems based on it.  It seems 
CMake or CMake scripts needs a fair bit of tweaks to replace 
Boost.Build.  Trying to make a Boost.Build killer out of CMake has taken 
years by some dedicated people around here, and they are clearly not done.

>   Are there many people/projects who use Boost.Jam/Boost.Build outside 
> of Boost?

I have no idea, but there are some that enjoy its features - yes.

> These questions are asked purely out of curiosity due to my ignorance 
> of Boost.Jam/Boost.Build, not because I have an axe to grind.

In my opinion, I would like to see efforts to make boost build generate 
CMake scripts and/or visa versa.

-- 
Bjørn